03 Apr 2014
by Debra Manskey
in Biography, Business, Composition, Downloads, Inspiration, Inspiration, Inspiration, Merchandise, Music, Performance, Recording, Singing, Teaching, Writing
Tags: ASA, Australian music, Debra Manskey, feminist music, Griffith University, live music, online music lessons, original music, Straddlepuss, Tasmanian original music, Tasmanian songwriters, The Night Owl Music Bar
After six months with just my trusty mobile phone, I’m extremely happy to announce that I’ve got a home broadband connection again. Despite having the WordPress app on my phone, it’s just not the same as this interface on my laptop.
It’s good to be back – but now the big job of catching up begins! So much has been happening this southern summer, and as always, some of it’s been good and some of it’s been really bad.
On the “utterly brilliant” end of the spectrum, I’ve finished my first fully online unit through Griffith University. Despite only having my mobile for connection, I managed a surprising high distinction and I have to thank some beautiful friends in Hobart for letting me leach their net regularly to stay on top of things. Thank you Lauren and Patsi ❤ you two are wonderful! I’m well into my second unit now and starting to really enjoy the challenge of study again.
In the next few weeks, I’ll be finalising digital stuff for my most recent recording and playing catch up with getting cd’s out and about. And for those of you in southern Tasmania, I’m playing at the next ASA show on Wednesday, 9th April. Once again, we’re at The Night Owl in Liverpool Street, Hobart.
I’ll also have details to reveal soon about a new songwriting/recording/documentary project, plus a live, all-girl punk band I’m playing with called Straddlepuss.
And finally, being back online with a fibre connection means I can at long last offer Skype music lessons to you all. I can’t believe it was October last year when I first wrote about this and it’s taken until now to get it off the ground! If you’re interested, fill out the contact form – and the first lesson is free 😉
There’s been sadness too but I’m not dwelling on that today.
Today is a day for cheering!
Take care friends,
Debra ❤
27 Dec 2013
by Debra Manskey
in Business, Composition, Downloads, Inspiration, Lyrics, Music, Recording, Singing, Teaching, Writing
Tags: Australian music, Australian original music, downloads, Inspiration, Jax, mentoring, music teaching, original music, Tasmanian music, Tasmanian original music, Tasmanian songwriters, triple J Unearthed, Writing
The Gorgeous Jax
To begin with, irrespective of what you believe (or don’t believe) I wish you all a peaceful, relaxed holiday season. I’ve been having a great time, taking some time off with family and friends. But I’ve been pretty lax with keeping up with my blog – sorry!
Probably one of the best presents I’ve ever had was dumped in my lap recently. As a mentor and music teacher, you always wish the best for your charges but this is just outstanding 🙂
I’m very proud and pleased that JAX has made it to Number 6 on the Triple J Unearthed Pop charts.
For those of you outside of Australia, this is something to truly celebrate, I really can’t begin to describe how proud I am of this up and coming artist! The song she’s uploaded “Swallow” is a really excellent pop song with quite a mature, dark lyric. This young woman is an inspiration to us all, to stick at it and follow your dreams!
I encourage you all to go to the site and have a listen – “Swallow” is available for free download.
Meanwhile, play nicely, stay safe and have a great end to 2013!
Debra xx
01 Dec 2013
by Debra Manskey
in Biography, Business, Composition, Downloads, Merchandise, Music, Recording, Singing, Teaching, Writing
Tags: Australian original music, downloads, music teaching, recording, Skype lessons, Tasmanian original music, The Lucky Six, The Woman on the Edge of the World
It’s been an exciting year for me but I’m really looking forward to 2014.
For starters, I’m on track to have The Lucky Six ready for release as a digital download early in the new year. If there’s enough interest, I’ll consider a CD release later in the year 😉
And, my previous digital release,The Woman on the Edge of the World has been so warmly received, that plans are well underway for a limited CD version. Each copy will contain full liner notes, my original artwork and photography and will be numbered and signed by me.
We’re planning this to be 100 copies only available through me. So if you’re interested, get in touch to pre-order!
Also, next year I’ll still be teaching privately in Hobart and taking some distance students via Skype. Plus, I have a wonderful session I run each week, writing and making music with a group of disabled people.
Life is full – and I love it that way 😀
25 Nov 2013
by Debra Manskey
in Biography, Composition, Festivals, Inspiration, Inspiration, Lyrics, Music, Performance, Recording, Singing, Teaching, Writing
Tags: Australian music, Griffith University, Inspiration, live music, Malcolm Battersby, mature age study, mentoring, NaBloPoMo, online learning, original music, performance, Tasmanian music, Tasmanian original music, Tasmanian songwriters, The Fringe Dwellers, Writing
Well, today is momentous. I am now officially back at University! I’m a little scared still but very excited about getting back into scan reading mountains of papers and books for references, making coherent arguments in essays and referencing it all correctly – oh dear, what have I done??!!! No, seriously – it’ll be fun once I get back into the swing 😉
Thanks to my beautiful friends Lauren and Patsi, I’ve been able to log on and join in the discussion board and download extra material that Griffith University didn’t post to me. Yes, I still don’t have a dedicated internet connection at home and sadly, I haven’t been able to keep up with my NaBloPoMo committments, but I’m doing my best.
Over the weekend, I also had some great times with other beautiful friends, namely Jax and Malcolm Battersby. Mal and I played a really nice gig at the Richmond Festival. It was the inaugural Songwriters Concert at the festival and we got to work with some great local artists and the organiser – champion of original music, Roger Joseph.
The other truly beautiful thing is I heard a new song Jax’s written (as yet untitled) and it’s just gorgeous. I understand she’s going to debut it live at the ASA December 11th gig and I can’t wait to hear it again! I heard a rough from Belfry Studio but once the mix is finalised, it’ll be up on Jax’s Triple J Unearthed page. It’s so satisfying to see someone with so much raw talent start to blossom into a confident and accomplished writer and recording artist – it’s really inspirational!
All in all, a very satisfying time in my life – despite the lack of home internet.
Take care everyone and have a wonderful day too, wherever you are
Debra 🙂
22 Nov 2013
by Debra Manskey
in Biography, Business, Inspiration, Music, Performance, Singing, Writing
Tags: Australia, Australian Songwriters Association, Cassie O'Keefe, Debra Manskey, Inspiration, Jax, live m, Malcolm Battersby, NaBloPoMo, original music, Richmond Festival, Tasmanian original music, Tasmanian songwriters, The Fringe Dwellers
Now that I’ve finished recording The Lucky Six, it’s time to spend a little attention on two live shows I’ve got in the immediate future.
Firstly, this Sunday 24th November, my partner in mayhem and music – Malcolm Battersby – is joining me for The Richmond Festival. We’re performing as The Fringe Dwellers at the Songwriters’ Concert and we’re both looking forward to it immensely! There’s some great Tasmanian songwriters on the bill with us, Marc Smith, Peter Hicks and the wonderful Wolf Arrow Rain.
If you’re in southern Tasmania, it’s worth the trip out to Richmond. It’s a lovely little hamlet and I have it on good authority that the weather should be fine after a damp morning…….
In December, it will be ten years since the Australian Songwriters Association (Tasmania) reignited at The Telegraph Hotel. Apart from making me feel really old, it’s fabulous to see how many performers from those days are still playing in venues here in Tasmania as well as interstate and overseas. In honour of the occasion, a very special ASA night is planned for Wednesday 11th December at The Night Owl Cafe in Liverpool Street, Hobart. The best part for me is that students of mine, Cassie O’Keefe, Kirsty Leaf and the fabulous Jax will all be performing, along with myself and Mal.
I couldn’t be prouder!
17 Nov 2013
by Debra Manskey
in Biography, Chickens, Music, Rabbits, Recording, Singing, Urban Farming, Vegetable Gardening, Writing
Tags: chickens, growing garlic, NaBloPoMo, rabbits, recording, singing, spring, Tasmanian music, urban farming
After a wonderful couple of days recording and mixing at Belfry Studio, I really felt a need to get out in the garden and get my hands dirty today. I wanted to get some space before listening to the CD again.
Hobart turned on a fabulous spring day for me and I had a great time. Lots of playing with the rabbits, who had their hutches cleaned out and then planting sunflower seedlings and climbing beans, mulch courtesy of the rabbits. It was a perfect day for cutting Tarragon for drying too.
All the time I kept thinking about the recording, even sang a few bars to the chooks, who didn’t mind at all – they had silverbeet and kale leaves to peck at.
As I was finishing up for the day, I noticed some garlic at the front of a bed. Now, I have garlic everywhere in my garden, I love it and can never grow enough but it tends to get overlooked as it dies down. I realised these were cloves I forgot to pull last summer. So tonight’s stir fry had fresh garlic – and I have about a dozen or more heads to cure and plait for keeping.
After dinner, I sat back and put the CD on – yes, there’s minor tweaks that I need to make but wow – I’m very pleased and proud.
16 Nov 2013
by Debra Manskey
in Biography, Merchandise, Music, Recording, Singing, Writing
Tags: Australian music, inspiring places, NaBloPoMo, recording, Tasmanian music, The Lucky Six
It’s a beautiful still morning down at Murdunna on the Tasman Peninsula. I haven’t had any phone reception until now to write but I haven’t minded at all. It finally stopped raining yesterday and I feel like I’m living inside a pearl on Mal’s veranda.
Yesterday, I finished the last track of my latest recording project, The Lucky Six, and did an initial mix of all the songs. It was a long day!
This has been a tremendous learning experience for me, despite my many years as a recording artist, because I’ve reinterpreted six songs by other people that have been part of life. I’ve never done a covers recording – it’s always been original material up till now – and it was surprisingly tricky to find the right arrangements.
The songs I’ve chosen are diverse but meaningful to me and range from well known (Fats Waller’s Ain’t Misbehain’) to the obscure (Patrik Fitzgerald’s Little Fishes).
Depending on how the mixes sit, I hope to have this little EP available as a download on Soundcloud by the new year.
Meanwhile, it’s time for breakfast. Have a beautiful day wherever you are 🙂
11 Nov 2013
by Debra Manskey
in Biography, Business, Merchandise, Music, Recording, Singing, Writing
Tags: Australian music, debut recording, Facebook, Inspiration, NaBloPoMo, original music, professional musician, Tasmania, Tasmanian original music, Tasmanian songwriters
Just a very quick update today about my friend and fellow musician Jax.
The Gorgeous Jax
Her debut Mini Album “These Things” is selling well and now there’s a Facebook Fan Page for her! And, southern Tasmania readers please note, Jax will be performing at the Australian Songwriters Association Tasmania big bash in December. (Details coming soon!)
As I’ve said to a few people this morning, get in early, be ahead of the trend, like this page, buy her music – this woman’s got it 😉
Jax – “These Things” Mini Album
08 Nov 2013
by Debra Manskey
in Biography, Business, Downloads, Inspiration, Inspiration, Lyrics, Merchandise, Music, Performance, Recording, Singing
Tags: Australian music, Belfry Studio, Debra Manskey, Inspiration, Malcolm Battersby, merchandise, music that inspires me, NaBloPoMo, recordings, singing, The Fringe Dwellers
After a little sojourn into urban farming and environmental concerns, today it’s back to the driving force in my life – music!
At the moment, I’m preparing to finish recording my next project, and it’s something completely foreign to me. After years of writing and playing my own songs, I’m recording an EP of other people’s songs. I started recording a couple of months ago and I now have five songs that I’m pretty pleased with as studio roughs. But I’d like to record one more and then start the mixing process.
Bertha & Blondie, ready for action
The concept is to record songs that have influenced my own songwriting and/or singing and believe me, the hardest thing has been narrowing it down to just six! In conversation with my musical partner-in-crime and studio whiz, Malcolm Battersby, “The Lucky Six” came up as a title. And I love it!
Also, it’s been my first opportunity to record in Mal’s new facility, The Belfry Studio, and what a delight that has been! The space is lovely and the equipment is excellent but I always love recording with Mal for a multitude of other reasons. We play together in The Fringe Dwellers so musically, we know each other very well. Everytime we get together, whether it’s for rehearsals, gigs or just a cuppa, we have a great time – we both have a similar mad sense of humour – but it’s his professionalism that shines through when I’m recording and he’s engineering.
We have a plan and generally, stick to it. He gives me space in the recording studio to get on with what I’m good at and doesn’t get in my way when I need time to consider my next move. He’ll make suggestions but not demands and knows exactly when to call a tea break. And his recording gear and microphones are good!
I anticipate “The Lucky Six” will be available as a digital download early in 2014. I’ll have links through this blog when we get it finished 😀
Some of the neighbours are a bit too cute but the view and the vibe is relaxed and lovely.
The Next Door Neighbour
Personally, I think the Daleks in the control room are what really drives it and makes it perfection 😉
Cheers everyone,
Debra
Daleks keeping an eye on Jax in the control room
26 Oct 2013
by Debra Manskey
in Composition, Inspiration, Lyrics, Music, Performance, Singing, Teaching, Writing
Tags: composing music, Debra Manskey, lyric writing, mentoring, music arrangement, music teaching, online learning, performance skills, performing, Skype
On Stage at Casbah Cafe
Due to enquiries from interstate and overseas, I’m setting up online music lessons from January 2014 on Skype. And for those of you who fill out the following contact form – the first lesson is free!
(Please note: I value your privacy and all information provided will never be passed on to any third party or displayed anywhere by me without your permission.)
Take care everyone!
Debra 😀
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